broderie

The book, curated by Valentina Sardu, features wonderful full-color illustrations: 60 tables in large format, 410 x 290 mm, with over 90 cross stitch floral motifs, retraced from original charts published during the Nineteenth century and at the beginning of the Twentieth century.

Here you can see some of the antique charts used for this project…

Take a look at the video preview (watch in HD for a better resolution):

One of the patterns, a gorgeous cushion with poppies, has been also featured on the cover of the Italian magazine RicAmare (June 2017).

Working the fill-in patterns

You can use one strand of black cotton floss or, why not, a fine metallic thread (mine was a shiny black and gold thread: Aurifil Brillo #646)

Outlining

Free-form designs like this can be outlined in many ways using different embroidery stitches, like stem stitch or chain stitch, but for this project I decided to use a thick gold cord secured with a simple couching stitch.

Choose a starting point and secure the couching thread (a fine sewing thread) on the back of the fabric.

Lay the metallic cord along the pencil marks and hold it in place with the finer thread, making tiny regular stitches.

The gold cord in the pictures was couched using a 50wt thread in a yellow-orange colour: Aurifil Makò Cotton #2145.

When all the outline is done, tie the two unsewn ends of the cord in a bow. Secure the centre with the sewing thread and trim the excess cord.

As an alternative to the bow, if the couched cord is not too thick, you can pull it to the back of the fabric, using a large needle or a crochet hook. Buttons, beads or other charms can be added to the design, if desired.

Now the embroidery is finally ready to be framed!

The model used in this tutorial was mounted in the lid of a wooden box, perfect for a Christmas gift!

Here is the blackwork filling designed for the occasion:

This pattern, combined with metallic threads, will give a festive look to your projects :-)

General Information

Copyright Information

Our books and embroidery designs are protected by copyright and they are only for your own PERSONAL USE. You cannot print, copy, or transfer them (on paper or electronically) for anybody else. Any copyright violation and unauthorized distribution will be prosecuted by law.